Thursday, April 19, 2018

April 19th Stanley Cup Playoffs Morning Skate

SHARKS SWEEP DUCKS, WILL FACE GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN SECOND ROUND
Anaheim tied the game in the third period, but Tomas Hertl scored the clinching goal with 10:51 remaining in regulation as the Sharks swept their First Round series with the Ducks. San Jose swept a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the second time in franchise history (also 2013 CQF vs. VAN).

* The Sharks outscored the Ducks 16-4 through four games, highlighted by an 8-1 victory in Game 3. Elias notes that San Jose established a franchise record for fewest goals against in a playoff series (4), eclipsing the mark of seven set in the 2002 Conference Quarterfinals vs. PHX and matched in the 2004 Conference Semifinals vs. COL.

* Martin Jones (30 saves) improved to 4-0 in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with a 1.00 goals-against average, .970 save percentage and one shutout. He earned his 20th career postseason win with the Sharks to pass Antti Niemi (19) for sole possession of second place on the franchise’s all-time list among goaltenders, trailing only Evgeni Nabokov (40).

* The Sharks will face the Golden Knights in the Second Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs – the only other team to advance thus far. This marks just the eighth time in NHL history – and second time in the past 22 years – that two teams will meet after both sweeping their preceding best-of-seven playoff series. In six of the seven previous instances, the winner went on to win the Stanley Cup (including two instances where the meeting occurred in the Final).

CROSBY LEAPFROGS LEMIEUX IN PENGUINS’ GAME 4 VICTORY
Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) was one of four Pittsburgh players to post multiple points and Matt Murray turned aside all 26 shots he faced as the Penguins took a 3-1 lead in their First Round series. Pittsburgh holds an all-time series record of 14-3 when taking a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven (82.4%).

* Crosby boosted his career playoff totals to 62-111—173 (all w/ PIT) and leapfrogged Mario Lemieux (76-96—172) for the most postseason points in franchise history. Among active players with at least 50 games of playoff experience, only two others are franchise leaders for postseason points: Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (48-46—94) and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf (37-83—120).

* Crosby moved within two playoff points of tying Denis Savard (66-109—175) for 16th place on the NHL’s all-time list. He owns a 1.14 career points per game average in the postseason (152 GP), the fourth-highest in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (min. 150 GP).

Murray has posted a shutout in four of his last six postseason appearances dating to Game 5 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final versus Nashville. He registered his sixth career playoff shutout overall and moved into a tie with Harry Lumley and Terry Sawchuk for the most by a goaltender before celebrating their 24th birthday.

LIGHTNING TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD, KUCHEROV CLIMBS FRANCHISE’S ALL-TIME LIST
Nikita Kucherov (2-1—3) factored on all three goals to help the Lightning take a 3-1 lead in their First Round series. Tampa Bay holds an all-time series record of 4-0 when taking a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven.

* Kucherov (26-25—51) scored his 25th and 26th career playoff goals (all w/ TBL) to pass Vincent Lecavalier (24) for sole possession of second place on the franchise’s all-time list. He trails only Martin St. Louis (33-35—68) and Lecavalier (24-28—52) for the most postseason points in Lightning history.

* Kucherov is the franchise’s all-time leader in multi-goal outings (7) and games with at least three points (8) in the postseason. He shares the League lead with nine points in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs (4-5—9).

* Kucherov is the franchise’s all-time leader in multi-goal outings (7) and games with at least three points (8) in the postseason. He shares the League lead with nine points in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs (4-5—9).

PREDATORS HANG ON TO WIN GAME 4
The Predators built a 3-0 lead and held off a late Avalanche rally to win Game 4 and go up 3-1 in their First Round series. Nashville holds an all-time series record of 2-0 when taking a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven.

* The Predators will host Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena, where they own an 11-2 record in postseason games since the beginning of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. All three of Nashville's series-clinching wins in the 2017 postseason came on home ice (Game 4 of FR vs. CHI, Game 6 of SR vs. STL and Game 6 of CF vs. ANA).

* The Predators have won 13 of their last 14 games against the Avalanche dating to April 5, 2016 (regular season and playoffs).

About Me

This is mainly a Regina sports blog, but you will get information and thoughts from me on a number of topics some that aren't even sports related. You can see me on Access 7 in Regina co-hosting a local one hour sports program called Locker Talk highlighting Regina sports. You can hear me reading afternoon news and sports on 620 CKRM in Regina along with co-hosting "Sportscage" on same station from time to time. I'm also a part of Sask Roughriders broadcast on CKRM and I write feature articles for the Riders on their website Riderville.com.